More church crosses demolished

Hong Kong (UCAN): Chinese officials have ordered the demolition of crosses and some other church structures in dioceses in Zhejiang, Henan and Guizhou provinces.

In southwestern Guizhou on October 15, officials ordered Anlong Church to remove structures and crosses, erected as part of a local pilgrimage, which allegedly violated planning laws.

Authorities warned that unless a fine was paid by October 20, income obtained from the pilgrimage would be confiscated.

On October 12, two crosses of the Luoyang Catholic Church in Henan province were demolished by authorities, while the next day, a cross forcibly was removed from a church in Zhumadian Diocese, also in Henan.

A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that officials determined that, as three local Christian churches already had crosses removed, the Catholic Church should not be exempted.

John, from the official Church community said it was depressing that such problems persisted.

“That is Christianity is in conformity with Sinicization, in other words, in line with socialism,” he said.